COMMUNITY COMMENTARY:

The renovation of the Marian Bergeson Aquatics Complex showed how the community can benefit when the city, the Newport-Mesa School District and the residents work together.

The complex, a major community asset, is owned by the school district and operates under a joint use agreement with the city. It has served the community and Corona del Mar High School since 1990.

The facility was showing its age and needed renovations to bring it up to current standards. Members asked me what the city could do to help.

As the complex is used nearly all day, every day by local students and community members, I was moved to do what I could to support this community facility. I asked the City Council to support a $290,000 challenge pledge to help fund the improvements.

I recently visited the complex during a girls’ high school water polo tournament and am delighted to report that phases one (replastering/repair of pool, drainage and deck) and two (shade structures and lighting) are substantially complete and look amazing. Plans for phase three (reconfiguring the office area and installing a new scoreboard) and phase four (building locker rooms) are under way.

The moment someone steps onto the pool deck, it’s obvious that it’s a first-class facility where great things can and do happen. On the day I visited, the top-ranked high school girls’ water polo team was well on its way to winning the prestigious Holiday Cup tournament. Just last spring, the Corona del Mar High School boys’ and girls’ water polo booster clubs hosted a sold-out exhibition game between the United States’ men’s and the then first-ranked Croatian men’s national water polo teams. Over the summer, the complex served as a venue for the California High School Championship water polo tournament. The high school boys’ water polo team is one of the best-regarded programs in the United States and the school’s swim team boasts many top-ranked swimmers, and consistently places high in regional competitions.

It’s been said that “it takes a village to raise a child.” The “village“ that renovated the complex includes the city of Newport Beach, Newport Mesa Unified School District, Corona del Mar High School, the administration and aquatics coaches, the Daily Pilot, which provides publicity for their efforts, and the parents and members of the community who continue to work hard.

The complex will continue to serve as an important venue for numerous local, regional, national and international aquatics competitions and will continue to foster the development of water safety and other skills of many young people. Thank you for being a part of this “village” that enriches our community and for doing your part to make this possible.

LESLIE DAIGLE is a Newport Beach councilwoman.